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Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Monday announced the creation of a joint task force with the Department of Justice to identify and prosecute officials who leak “sensitive information” to the media.
Hegseth said the Pentagon’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) can request and receive all information, support and records from the entire department regarding the leak investigation.
“To fight the dangers caused by the leaks, immediately, I sent the appointment authority to the office of the military department of the general counsel, giving the OGC the power to request and receive all information, records and support from the entire department regarding the investigation of the media leaks,” he said in a video shared on X.
“Leaked information puts people’s lives at risk, and these new tools and processes will greatly assist us in protecting our collective forces,” Hegseth continued. “The security of our nation cannot be a talking point for those looking for short-term headlines, access to classified and classified information is a sacred trust, and those who betray that trust will be met with the full force of the law.”
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The head of the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, on Monday announced a joint task force with the Department of Justice to identify and prosecute the leakers. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
The secretary also thanked Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche for his support, adding that he is “proud that our departments are working together more than ever.”
Hegseth’s announcement comes just days after the DOJ issued subpoenas to four New York Times reporters, trying to compel them to testify before a federal judge after the newspaper reported on security concerns involving a plane provided to President Donald Trump by Qatar to fly to Turkey for a recent NATO summit.
The complaints were widely criticized by the New York Times, journalists from various news channels and libertarian groups, saying that the Trump administration is trying to intimidate journalists who collect official news about the government.
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The announcement comes days after the DOJ issued subpoenas to four New York Times reporters. (Kevin Wolf/AP)
“The appearance of law enforcement on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the freedom of the press it protects,” said the newspaper’s attorney, David McCraw, in a statement.
“Our reporters report the facts and advance the American public’s right to know how their government is working and how their taxpayer dollars are being spent,” McCraw added. “This act of disrespect must be taken as an attempt to prevent the public from knowing what is happening in their country by threatening journalists to do their job.
Since taking over as head of the Pentagon last year, Hegseth has sought to end leaks to the media.
Last year, the Ministry opened an investigation against those suspected of leaking confidential information to the media and threatened to conduct polygraphs to identify the leakers.
The Secretary thanked Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche for his support. (Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images)
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Hegseth also tried to place restrictions on reporters covering the Pentagon. He forced them to sign an oath that they would not ask for any unauthorized items, even if the information was illegal. Most Pentagon reporters turned in their news badges instead of accepting the department’s restrictions on news gathering.
That policy is facing lawsuits, and a judge last month issued a preliminary injunction, ruling that the department’s requirement that reporters be accompanied by an official bodyguard at all times violates the First Amendment in a lawsuit filed by the New York Times.
